Cultivating Business Growth

Willow Virtual CFO
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How can I increase the value of my business? How can I increase profitability in my business? Is it possible to balance owning a successful business with living the lifestyle I desire? Welcome to the Cultivating Business Growth Podcast, where we answer all of those questions and MUCH MORE! We host weekly discussions designed to help you grow your business AND create the lifestyle you desire. Elevate your business with proven strategies from CPAs and business advisors. We discuss real-world challenges solved with actionable steps that get you real results both in business and building the life you deserve.

  1. MAR 9

    How to Fire a Client: The Math and Mess Behind Client Profitability

    If a client brings in revenue but drains your team, disrupts your processes, or creates constant stress, are they actually profitable? In this episode of Cultivating Business Growth, Megan Spicer is joined by Willow Virtual CFO partner Jaime Staley to tackle one of the most difficult decisions business owners face: when it's time to fire a client. Many business owners hold on to clients longer than they should because they're focused on the revenue coming in. But true client profitability goes far beyond the top-line number. Jaime walks through how to evaluate the real impact a client has on your business, including hidden costs, team capacity, operational drag, and payment behavior. Together, Megan and Jaime break down a practical decision framework that helps remove emotion from the process and allows leaders to evaluate both the math and the mess behind a client relationship. They also share how to approach difficult conversations and how to fire a client professionally while protecting your reputation and relationships. If you've ever wondered whether a difficult client is worth keeping, or how to walk away when they're not, this episode provides a clear and practical framework to help you decide. In this episode, you'll learn: How to evaluate client profitability beyond revenue Warning signs that a client relationship is becoming unhealthy The hidden operational costs that can drain your team How to use a simple decision framework to evaluate difficult clients How to fire a client professionally and exit the relationship cleanly If you're feeling the pressure of difficult client relationships or wondering whether your current client mix is truly profitable, this conversation will help you approach the decision with clarity and confidence. To learn more about working with Willow Virtual CFO, visit: willowcfo.com

    28 min

  2. FEB 23

    Building a Business Development Plan That Actually Works (and How to Build a Referral Network)

    If your firm says business development is everyone's job, but no one owns it, this episode is for you. In Episode 180 of Cultivating Business Growth, Megan Spicer is joined by Neil Barrow, founder of Enabled BD and host of I Hope This Email Finds You Well, to unpack what business development really looks like inside professional service firms. Neil explains why business development isn't a soft skill, how to build consistent habits around growth, and how to create a practical business development plan focused on strengthening relationships first. He also shares how to build a referral network using your existing clients, why culture and structure both matter, and what firms should clarify before hiring a business developer. In this episode, we cover: – What business development actually is (and why we overcomplicate it) – How to make business development feel authentic instead of salesy – The four core areas every business development plan should include – Using the 80/20 rule to focus on what drives results – Why your current clients are the foundation of referrals – One actionable step you can take this week to strengthen your business development efforts This episode is ideal for CPAs, consultants, attorneys, and service-based business owners who want a clearer, more human-centered approach to growth.

    33 min

  3. FEB 9

    Business Growth Planning for Expansion: The Second Location Scorecard

    Adding a second location is often treated like a milestone, but it's one of the fastest ways to put pressure on a healthy business if it's done too soon. In this episode of Cultivating Business Growth, Megan Spicer is joined by Willow Virtual CFO partner Katina Peters to break down a practical expansion framework designed to help business owners decide when growth makes sense, and when it doesn't. We introduce the Second Location Scorecard, built around three critical areas every owner should evaluate before signing a lease or hiring a team: Demand: Is your growth repeatable and sustainable, or is it temporary pressure? Cash: Can your cash flow absorb fixed costs, upfront expenses, and a slower-than-expected ramp? Capacity: Do your systems and team support growth without burning out the owner or leadership team? You'll learn why expansion should be treated as a strategy, not a reward, how to spot red flags before they become expensive mistakes, and what to fix first if the answer is "not yet." If you're feeling busy, maxed out, or considering opening a second location, this episode will help you make the decision with clarity instead of pressure. 👉 Learn more or book a strategy call at willowcfo.com/contact

    30 min

  4. JAN 26

    Data Protection for Small Business During Growth

    Growing your business means adding vendors, cloud tools, and systems, but it also means increasing your exposure to data risk. In this episode of Cultivating Business Growth, Jaime Staley sits down with Timothy O'Hara, VP of Data Risk at The Hack Ninja, to break down data protection for small business in a way non-technical owners can actually understand and act on. You'll learn why small and mid-sized businesses are often more vulnerable than large enterprises, how vendor and third-party risk quietly creates exposure, and what "minimum viable" cybersecurity really looks like for growing companies without internal IT leadership. This conversation reframes cybersecurity as a leadership and growth issue, not just an IT problem, showing how strong data controls can reduce risk, speed up deals, improve valuations, and protect your reputation as you scale. In this episode, we cover: Why growing businesses are prime targets for data breaches The biggest misconceptions about cybersecurity and vendor responsibility How third-party tools and vendors create hidden risk What questions to ask vendors to protect your data Zero Trust explained for small business owners Practical first steps to improve data protection this quarter How strong security controls can actually accelerate growth Resources mentioned: Learn more about Tim's work at The Hack Ninja: https://thehackninja.com Access a complimentary cybersecurity education session for small business owners through The Hack Ninja website If you're scaling your business and relying on software, vendors, or cloud tools, this episode will help you understand where your risk lives, and how to address it before it becomes a costly problem.

    30 min

  5. JAN 12

    Construction Job Costing That Protects Your Margins (Best Practices for Contractors)

    If job costing only tells you what went wrong after a project is complete, it isn't protecting your margins; it's just record keeping. In this episode of Cultivating Business Growth, Megan Spicer is joined by construction industry expert Katina Peters of Willow Virtual CFO to break down how construction job costing should function as a real-time leadership system, not post-mortem accounting. They discuss why lack of job visibility shows up as profit problems, where job costing typically breaks down, and the job costing best practices contractors can use to protect margins while a job is still running, not after it's too late. If you're tired of surprise overruns, delayed billing, and jobs that look profitable on paper but not in reality, this episode will help you rethink how job costing supports profitability, cash flow, and smarter decision-making. 👉 Learn more or book a conversation at willowcfo.com/contact

    32 min

  6. 12/01/2025

    Managing HR Risk & Compliance with Andrea Herron of Focus HR

    As your business grows, so does your HR risk. In this episode, we're joined by Andrea Herran, CEO of Focus HR, to break down the most common compliance pitfalls small businesses face, and how to avoid them before they become expensive problems. Andrea shares why HR compliance for small business is essential to sustainable growth and how outsourced HR services can give owners expert guidance without the cost of hiring a full-time HR manager. We explore hidden risks that surface as your team expands, the red flags that signal it's time for HR support, and practical steps you can take today to strengthen your policies, protect your business, and set your team up for success. Whether you're building your first HR foundation or realizing you've outgrown your current process, this episode offers clarity, direction, and confidence for your next stage of growth.

    36 min

  7. 11/17/2025

    #175: One Big Beautiful Bill Tax Changes 2025

    Jaime Staley is joined by partner and CFO, Katina Peters, to break down what's actually changing, who may benefit, and how to start planning before year-end instead of being surprised next April. In this episode, we cover: How the 2025 tax brackets and standard deduction look under the new bill "No tax on tips" and "no tax on overtime" - who qualifies and what the limits are Updates to the child tax credit, senior deduction, SALT cap, and estate & gift tax exemption Key small business changes, including QBI, bonus depreciation, Section 179, and more What Trump child accounts are, how they work, and why starting early can matter Why proactive mid-year and year-end tax planning is still essential If you're wondering how the Big Beautiful Bill might affect your 2025 tax return or your business, this conversation will give you a clear starting point and the right questions to take to your tax advisor. This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. Please consult your tax professional about your specific situation.

    35 min

  8. 11/03/2025

    How Technology Audits Transform Business Efficiency with Brian Zielinski of ShapeConnect

    Is your tech stack helping your business grow, or holding it back? In this episode of the Cultivating Business Growth Podcast, host Katina Peters, CPA & CGMA, talks with Brian Zielinski, President and Managing Director of ShapeConnect, about how a technology audit can uncover inefficiencies, streamline data flow, and set your business up for scalable success. Brian shares real stories of companies that transformed operations and doubled revenue through the right software systems, and why even small and mid-sized businesses should regularly assess their technology.   Practical examples of businesses that grew by upgrading or optimizing their systems Connect with Brian Zielinski: ShapeConnect.com ShapeConnect on LinkedIn Learn more about Willow Virtual CFO: willowcfo.com

    26 min
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About

How can I increase the value of my business? How can I increase profitability in my business? Is it possible to balance owning a successful business with living the lifestyle I desire? Welcome to the Cultivating Business Growth Podcast, where we answer all of those questions and MUCH MORE! We host weekly discussions designed to help you grow your business AND create the lifestyle you desire. Elevate your business with proven strategies from CPAs and business advisors. We discuss real-world challenges solved with actionable steps that get you real results both in business and building the life you deserve.

Information

  • Creator
    Willow Virtual CFO
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    181
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    Copyright © 2015 - 2025 | Willow Virtual CFO. All Rights Reserved.
  • Show Website
    Cultivating Business Growth